Write research grant proposals and apply for funding from government agencies and private funding sources

Follow procedures to avoid contamination and maintain safety

Many medical scientists form hypotheses and develop experiments, with little supervision. They often lead teams of technicians, and sometimes students, who perform support tasks. For example, a medical scientist working in a university laboratory may have undergraduate assistants take measurements and make observations for the scientist’s research.

Medical scientists study the causes of diseases and other health problems. For example, a medical scientist who does cancer research might put together a combination of drugs that could slow the cancer’s progress. A clinical trial may be done to test the drugs. A medical scientist may work with licensed physicians to test the new combination on patients who are willing to participate in the study.

In a clinical trial, patients agree to help determine if a particular drug, a combination of drugs, or some other medical intervention works. Without knowing which group they are in, patients in a drug-related clinical trial receive either the trial drug or a placebo—a pill or injection that looks like the trial drug but does not actually contain the drug.

Medical scientists analyze the data from all the patients in the clinical trial, to see how the trial drug performed. They compare the results with those obtained from the control group that took the placebo, and they analyze the attributes of the participants. After they complete their analysis, medical scientists may write about and publish their findings.

Medical scientists do research both to develop new treatments and to try to prevent health problems. For example, they may study the link between smoking and lung cancer or between diet and diabetes.

Medical scientists who work in private industry usually have to research the topics that benefit their company the most, rather than investigate their own interests. Although they may not have the pressure of writing grant proposals to get money for their research, they may have to explain their research plans to nonscientist managers or executives.

Medical scientists usually specialize in an area of research. The following are examples of types of medical scientists:

Cancer researchers research the causes of cancers, as well as ways to prevent and cure cancers. They may specialize in one or more types of cancer.

Clinical and medical informaticians develop new ways to use large datasets. They look for explanations of health outcomes through the statistical analysis of data.

Clinical pharmacologists research, develop, and test current and new drugs. They investigate the full effects that drugs have on human health. Their interests may range from understanding specific molecules to the effects that drugs have on large populations.

Gerontologists study the changes that people go through as they get older. Medical scientists who specialize in this field seek to understand the biology of aging and investigate ways to improve the quality of our later years.

Immunochemists investigate the reactions and effects that various chemicals and drugs have on the human immune system.

Neuroscientists study the brain and nervous system.

Research histologists have a specific skill set that is used to study human tissue. They investigate how tissue grows, heals, and dies, and may investigate grafting techniques that can help people who have experienced serious injury.

Serologists research fluids found in the human body, such as blood and saliva. Applied serologists often work in forensic science. For more information on forensic science, see the profile on forensic science technicians.

Toxicologists research the harmful effects of drugs, household chemicals, and other potentially poisonous substances. They seek to ensure the safety of drugs, radiation, and other treatments by investigating safe dosage limits.

Show More

Show Less

How To Become A Research Laboratory Manager

Medical scientists typically have a Ph.D., usually in biology or a related life science. Some medical scientists get a medical degree instead of a Ph.D., but prefer doing research to practicing as a physician.

Education

Students planning careers as medical scientists typically pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, or a related field. Undergraduate students benefit from taking a broad range of classes, including life sciences, physical sciences, and math. Students also typically take courses that develop communication and writing skills, because they must learn to write grants effectively and publish research findings.

After students have completed their undergraduate studies, they typically enter Ph.D. programs. Dual-degree programs are available that pair a Ph.D. with a range of specialized medical degrees. A few degree programs that are commonly paired with Ph.D. studies are Medical Doctor (M.D.), Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). Whereas Ph.D. studies focus on research methods, such as project design and data interpretation, students in dual-degree programs learn both the clinical skills needed to be a physician and the research skills needed to be a scientist.

Graduate programs emphasize both laboratory work and original research. These programs offer prospective medical scientists the opportunity to develop their experiments and, sometimes, to supervise undergraduates. Ph.D. programs culminate in a thesis that the candidate presents before a committee of professors. Students may specialize in a particular field, such as gerontology, neurology, or cancer.

Those who go to medical school spend most of the first 2 years in labs and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics, and medical law. They also learn how to record medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses. They may be required to participate in residency programs, meeting the same requirements that physicians and surgeons have to fulfill.

Medical scientists often continue their education with postdoctoral work. Postdoctoral work provides additional and more independent lab experience, including experience in specific processes and techniques such as gene splicing, which is transferable to other research projects.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Medical scientists primarily conduct research and typically do not need licenses or certifications. However, those who administer drugs, gene therapy, or otherwise practice medicine on patients in clinical trials or a private practice need a license to practice as a physician.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Communication is critical, because medical scientists must be able to explain their conclusions. In addition, medical scientists write grant proposals, because grants often are required to fund their research.

Critical-thinking skills. Medical scientists must use their expertise to determine the best method for solving a specific research question.

Data-analysis skills. Medical scientists use statistical techniques, so that they can properly quantify and analyze health research questions.

Decisionmaking skills. Medical scientists must determine what research questions to ask, how best to investigate the questions, and what data will best answer the questions.

Observation skills. Medical scientists conduct experiments that require precise observation of samples and other health data. Any mistake could lead to inconclusive or misleading results.

The national average salary for a Research Laboratory Manager in the United States is $59,674 per year or $29 per hour. Those in the bottom 10 percent make under $46,000 a year, and the top 10 percent make over $76,000.

Real Research Laboratory Manager Salaries

Job Title

Company

Location

Start Date

Salary

Manager, Pharmaceutical Research Laboratory

Eminent Services Corporation

Frederick, MD

Nov 17, 2014

$140,566

Research Scientist, Lab Manager

Medolac Laboratories, A Public Benefit Corporation

Lake Oswego, OR

Jun 30, 2015

$110,000

Research Laboratory Manager (Clinical Chemist)

Los Angeles Biomedical Research Inst at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Torrance, CA

Jun 13, 2016

$98,000

Lab & Research Manager/Microsurgery Specialist

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA

Jun 19, 2013

$79,000

Research Lab Manager

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc.

Boston, MA

Oct 07, 2015

$75,988

Senior Research Lab Manager

The University of Houston

Houston, TX

Jun 01, 2013

$75,000

Senior Research Lab Manager

The University of Houston

Houston, TX

Jan 06, 2013

$75,000

Research Laboratory Manager

The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, TX

Sep 15, 2015

$74,992

Biophysical Analysis Laboratory Manager/Research Specialist

Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN

Jun 20, 2016

$70,491

Research Lab Manager

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc.

Boston, MA

Mar 13, 2016

$70,000

Research Laboratory Manager

Mount Sinai Medical Center

New York, NY

Jun 15, 2015

$70,000

Manager, Research Laboratory

University of Miami-Miller School of Medicine

Miami, FL

Oct 19, 2015

$70,000

Manager-Research Laboratory

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Baltimore, MD

Aug 14, 2011

$60,000

Research Chemist and Laboratory Manager

Chemeor, Inc.

Covina, CA

Aug 25, 2016

$60,000

Researcher/Dairy Processing Lab MGR

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD

Oct 25, 2011

$60,000

Research Scientist/Lab Manager

W.M. Rice University

Houston, TX

Mar 04, 2013

$60,000

Senior Research Lab Manager

The University of Houston

Houston, TX

Oct 01, 2013

$59,400

Research Laboratory Manager

Pacific University

Forest Grove, OR

Dec 01, 2009

$59,150

Research and Laboratory Manager

Inguran LLC

DeForest, WI

Jun 05, 2015

$50,000

Lab and Research Manager

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA

Jan 03, 2016

$50,000

Research Lab Manager

The University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

Aug 10, 2012

$50,000

Research Lab Manager

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

Sep 01, 2009

$49,000

Research Lab Manager

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

Aug 01, 2010

$49,000

Research Lab Manager

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc.

Boston, MA

Nov 15, 2010

$48,000

Laboratory Research Manager

Inguran LLC

Fullerton, NE

Jan 02, 2012

$48,000

No Results

To get more results, try adjusting your search by changing your filters.